Covering for improving worn out steps

ABSTRACT

The covering (20) for repairing worn-out steps has two unitary flanges (21, 22, 25, 29) linked together, and is made of step and scuff resistant plastic. At least the capping (21) comprises at its underside facing the step (10) an insert of press board, which has less specific weight as the plastic (23) of the covering (FIG. 1).

The invention relates to a covering for improving worn-out stepsaccording to main claim 1.

Such covering is known from DE-GM No. 84 07 239.

According to this reference, there is provided a one-piece, I-shapedprofile made of plastic material, which is bonded with a binding filleronto the steps to be repaired.

The plastic used, for example, polyurethane, must be extremely solid forthe intended purpose. For example, it should be scuff and shockresistant. The polyurethane plastic required for this purpose has a highspecific weight and is relatively expensive. Also, it has been foundthat the binding with the step is not safe.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the coveringmentioned above in order that its binding with the steps to be repairedbe safer and that its assembly be facilitated.

This object can be achieved by the features given in the characterizingpart of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention aregiven in the sub-claims.

Because of the relatively rough surface of the press board, biding withthe step to be repaired has become much safer. Furthermore, because ofthe lesser specific weight of the press board in comparison topolyurethane, the covering becomes somewhat lighter, which naturallyalso facilitates the assembling and reduces the transportation costs. Itshould also be pointed out that the cost for the production of thecovering would be somewhat reduced, because for one covering for a stepto be repaired, about 2 kilograms of polyurethane can be saved which canbe replaced by somewhat less expensive press boards. In spite of this,the resistance (and also the value, the step and bending resistance,etc.) on the whole is not worse than a covering entirely made ofpolyurethane.

A wood fiber flooring bonded with rubber or plastic is known accordingto DE-PS 964 983. The object of that reference is to provide an entirecovering which is as waterproof as possible. In addition, this referencemakes no mention of the fact that the above covering can be used forrepairing the steps.

The invention will now be illustrated by means of the followingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are sectional views of various embodiments of coveringsaccording to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of a covering according to a further embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a step of a flight of stairs, including a worn-outstep and two adjacent risers 11 and 12 as well as two other adjacentsteps 13 and 14 (FIG. 3). The step 10 is extended by means of a stepedge over the riser 11 and, therefore, hangs thereover. It should,however, be mentioned that the invention can also be applied to a flightof stairs, in which the steps and risers constitute a unit without suchoverhang.

A covering 20 is laid on the steps to be repaired in the followingmanner:

In principle, the covering includes a capping 21 and a flange which isunitary and perpendicular thereto, and which is also parallel to theadjacent riser. According to the invention, at least the capping 21 hasat its underside a press board insert 24 which is placed on the oppositeside of step 10, and which has a lesser specific weight in comparison tothe rest of the plastic covering 20. This insert is placed in positionduring the preparation of the covering in a cast or a mold and isstrongly bonded with the plastic material. Preferably, the thickness ofthe press board 24 is about the same as the thickness of the capping 21,in order that it comprise half plastic material 23 and half lightermaterial of the press board 24.

The insert can extend entirely over the width of the covering and, asshown according to the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3, can extendto the rear in the direction of the corresponding riser 12 in a mannersuch that the rear portion of the covering extends to the front face ofthe riser 21. However, it is also possible to provide borders all aroundthe insert so that its front sides are bordered with plastic material.

The use of the press boards as insert material has the followingadvantages:

The material has, in comparison to plastic, a somewhat lesser specificweight, is cheaper to buy, and has sufficient resistance with respect tothe force of pressure and bending force. Also, because of its surfacestructure, it combines well with moldable plastic, such as polyurethaneor a PU-molding elastomer, so that even under heavy use, the differentlayers of steps will not separate one from the other.

The embodiment according to FIG. 1 shows flange 22 which isperpendicular to and unitary with capping 21. The flange 22 covers thefront edge of step 10 to be repaired, but is, however, generally spacedwith respect to the corresponding riser 11. As shown in FIG. 3, theriser 11 can be lined with a separate panel 30, which is supported bythe projecting part of the flange 22 which extends past the bottom edgeof step 10.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 shows a flange 25 which is parallelto riser 11 and is a continuation of the flange of covering 20, i.e., itis long enough to completely cover the riser 11. Its length, therefore,corresponds to that of the riser. According to the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2, the flange 25 also provides for an insert 27 madeof a press board. Thus, the flange 25 is made of a double layer, namely,of plastic material 26 and press board 27.

It will also be recognized, with reference to FIG. 2, that the capping21 can be extended over the flange 25 which extends perpendicularlythereunder to form a step edge 28. Such a step edge can obviously beprovided in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 3.

As is well known, the covering according to the invention is bonded bymeans of a binder 35 to at least the entire step 10 and, according tothe embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, also the risers 11 and 12 will becovered with the binder 35, so that, on the one hand, there will beobtained a binding of the entire surface, and, on the other hand, theworn-out indentations of the steps 10 to be repaired will be completelycovered.

Although this is not shown in the drawings, the capping, according tothe invention, can be provided with a slide resisting means in the frontportion thereof, for example, by means of a known formation or a groovecontaining an insert of slide resisting material, such as, for example,rubber.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A covering for repairingworn-out steps, said covering having a unitary profile, and at least acapping (24) and a flange perpendicular thereto, said covering extendingthe entire width of the step, and at least in the area of the visiblesurfaces to be seen after assembly, being made of moldable hardenedplastic said capping being provided on its underside with an insert ofpress board (24) which has a lower specific weight than the plasticmaterial.
 2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the flange (29) isprovided at its rear with an insert made of press board (24) which has alower specific weight than the plastic, said plastic being polyurethane.3. A covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the thicknessof the insert (24, 27) is half the thickness of the correspondingflanges (21, 25, 29).
 4. A covering according to claim 3, characterizedin that the flange (22) is shorter than the height of a step to berepaired.
 5. A covering according claim 4, characterized in that theflange (25) has a length which corresponds to the height of the step tobe repaired.
 6. A covering according to claim 5, characterized by aZ-shaped cross-section, whereby the upper side of the capping (21)extends past the flange (29), the length of said flange corresponding tothe height of the step to be repaired and extends from the underside ofthe capping (21) by means of a shorter flange portion (22).
 7. Acovering according to claim 6, characterized in that the flange (29) isalso provided with a recess which is filled with a material (32) whichhas a lesser specific weight than the plastic material.
 8. A coveringaccording to claim 7, characterized in that the upper side of thecapping (21) and the front side of the flange (29), is shaped tocorrespond to a wood grain.
 9. A covering according to claim 8,characterized in that the shaped surfaces are covered with a lacquer.